Film Analysis Worksheet

MISE EN SCENE

Mise en Scene

• Setting (general or specific/real or imaginary/$)
• What’s included in the shot/scene? Insight into culture/world/characters?
• Color (cool/warm) and saturation (high/de-)
• Actors (who/type/choices)
• Lighting: hard/soft/natural; high-key/natural/low-key

Remember: everything is there for a reason, what are the reasons? 

EDITING and SOUND

Editing

• Any manipulation of plot time (flashbacks, parallel editing, slow motion, etc)
• Length of takes, pacing, and rhythm
• Is there a master scene?
• Editor (who? assoc. w/dir.)

Sound

• Sources: diegetic/non-diegetic, foley, on/off-screen
• Type: dialog, ambient, music/score, silence
• What role does sound play – how does it contribute to the situation/mood/meaning?

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Cinematography

• Shot types, camera angles:

– what’s used? Why? used often or just this scene?

• Camera movement:

– pan, tilt, dolly, crane, hand-held, steady-cam, zoom

– used? often? useful or distracting…

• Composition: balance and symmetry (noticeable adherence to rule of 3rds?)
• Camera, lens, and film stock choices
• Aspect ratio of the film
• Cinematographer (who? assoc. w/director?)

GENRE & NARRATIVE

The Narrative

• Is there a narrator? (1^st, 3^rd person, etc)
• Who’s the protagonist (hero/antihero?)?

– Is he/she in this scene?

– Goal pursuing? Character flaws?

– Other characters? Purpose?

• Does film follow basic narrative structure? (4 parts)

– what part/act is scene in, how do you know?

• Plot: chronological?
• Scene’s significance for protagonist/film as a whole
• Screenwriter (who? association w/director)

Genre

• Which genre does it belong?
• How do you know? meets genre conventions? no?
• Specific character types?
• Where is the movie set/the environment?

SOURCES, DIRECTOR, & HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Director’s Intent

• Who is the director?
• What is he/she known for (movies, style, other)?
• What is the director trying to say/show (implicit meanings)?
• Who was it made for? How does it engage the audience – how do they feel after viewing?

Historical Context

• What other movies are being made at this time in this country?
• Specific producer, production company, other economic factors, political affiliations?
• Did the film have historical significance? How was it received (awards)?

Socio-cultural Context Referencing where the film was made and by whom, and what the subject matter is:

• How do the aspects of culture and society affect the film?

– customs and values included, re: religion, class, politics, attitude, bias…

SCENE’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE FILM AS A WHOLE & REASON FOR CHOOSING SCENE

• Thorough explanation of the extract’s relationship to the film as a whole
• Reason for choosing particular extract